KVR :: Hosts (Sequencers, DAWs, Audio Editors, etc.) » need a nice and powerful DAW [View Original Topic]
There are 46 posts in this topic.

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Lazerbacon766 - Tue Apr 24, 2012 5:41 pm

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I really need a new DAW. I used magix music maker mx for a while but not anymore. Then i tried using pro tools se and it was waaaayyyyy too heavyweight and pretty much all around useless (except for the loops those were awesome) So i need a really powerful lightweight daw and here are some of my NESSESITIES!!!!!

-Vst support
-Vst effect support
-Mixer window
-vst sequencer (FL users may know it as piano roll)
-track sequencer
-at least an ok looking gui (if not then user skins readily avalabile
-has to be able to run on win 7 64-bit (in other words on either vista 32 or 64 bit or win 7 32 or 64 bit)



Also some more loops would be nice or some more instruments

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ford442 - Tue Apr 24, 2012 5:50 pm

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Cubase is great - I use it and much prefer it to PT, but it is a weighty host - if you have limited resources then you can run REAPER. Those are my go to hosts these years.

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Resonator63 - Tue Apr 24, 2012 5:52 pm

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Try some demos and see what feels right for you.
Studio One has a nice clean workflow which I personally like.Mulab is also worth checking out.
I'm sure people will suggest others.Try a few out,it's the only way

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Anonymous - Tue Apr 24, 2012 5:59 pm

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DELETED

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Lazerbacon766 - Tue Apr 24, 2012 6:02 pm

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Um i don't remeber starting any threads about daws before

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liquidsound - Tue Apr 24, 2012 6:14 pm

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MuLab and Studio One are just amazing...
But you can also wait for energyXT v3.0 or Bitwig......

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siriusbliss - Tue Apr 24, 2012 8:07 pm

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Samplitude is great.
30-day demo available.

Not sure what is considered a 'heavy' DAW, but Samplitude IS 'deep'.
(and it comes with lots of loops and 'soundpools').

Greg

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reusenoise - Tue Apr 24, 2012 8:19 pm

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Synapse Orion,I think it have all you need
http://www.synapse-audio.com/orion.html

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damoog - Tue Apr 24, 2012 8:22 pm

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im gonna go completely against the flow here but have you tried reason 6,i consider it the best all round music program,its not a daw but imo once you get into a daw you get into the never ending world of buying plug ins....i used to buy tons of plug ins and all that time i was still using reason,actually making music!!...there are some amazing plug ins out there,seriuosly omnisphere is a prime example just how powerful a modern soft synth can sound...there a tons of reason haters here and it also might not be for you but i cant reccomend it enough with version 6

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Uncle E - Tue Apr 24, 2012 10:03 pm

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A nice thing about Cubase is it can be super accessible or super deep, it just depends on how you choose to use it.

FL Studio is great, too. I don't see any reason to avoid it, particularly since you can use it as a VSTi if you ever outgrow it.

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p356 - Tue Apr 24, 2012 10:14 pm

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I've used the entry level Cubase for years and it does all I need, recording, vsts, piano roll, etc. Not LE version you get with audio cards and such, it's called Elements now (used to be SE and Essentials in 5). It's only $70-80 and you can move up to the full program when you need more and you'll already know the software (my next step if I get some money someday).

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Anonymous - Tue Apr 24, 2012 10:15 pm

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DELETED

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allofdrab - Tue Apr 24, 2012 10:24 pm

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Didn't like Renoise?

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hibidy - Tue Apr 24, 2012 11:00 pm

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michi mak will LOVE this!

Try reaper.

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Anonymous - Tue Apr 24, 2012 11:06 pm

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DELETED

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hibidy - Tue Apr 24, 2012 11:37 pm

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Not much

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standalone - Wed Apr 25, 2012 12:42 am

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Gabba gabba we accept you, we accept you, one of us!

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chokehold - Wed Apr 25, 2012 12:57 am

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+1 for Reaper.

It takes some getting used to, but once you know how to handle it, you have a new best friend. (sort of.)

Switched to Reaper from Magix Music Studio (not Maker) in 2006, it's been a love story ever since.
When my Reaper license ran out because v4 was introduced, I gave other hosts a chance and started demo-ing and trying out other hosts, such as Sonar, Cubase (LE), Studio One, etc., I even bought Samplitude v11 just to return to Magix, my host-wise roots. Dumped them all, re-sold Samp v11, re-bought Reaper.
When I switched from PC to Mac a while ago, I again started looking around for alternatives, like the usual suspects: Pro Tools and Logic. My band mate lent me his MacBook for a couple of days, so "we" would have time to bond, but... both are nice and so on, both can justify their existence... it's just that somehow they're way too "clicky".

So even when completely changing my platform, I stayed with Reaper. It's just the best performer. (...for me.)

About that "clicky" thing: the amount of clicking and menu-scrolling and concentration you need in Pro Tools just to send one track to another ... unusable. 1 click in Reaper, drag & drop.
The amount of clicking and time it consumes in Logic to get an automation envelope active (without even putting any points on it) was unbelievable when i tried; in Reaper, it's 1 key press away.

It comes with a snitload of more than useful plugins, and even though I have plugins like SSL Duende and Waves stuff at hand, I find myself using ReaComp/ReaEQ/ReaVerb/ReaTune all the time. They might not look like winners, but they are.

If you need any help or have problems, there's a very active Reaper forum in which users help users and report bugs all the time, and where the Reaper staff mingle with the users to fix those bugs, incorporate useful new features and options and release them within (mostly only) a few weeks time.
Try getting Steinberg or Cakewalk or Magix to do that...
Also, there are many Reaper users like myself here at KVR, so I'm sure you could find some help here as well.

I could go on blathering about the pros and cons of this and that host all darn day, as I've spent so much time trying them out in my own time, but I won't.
You should really give it a spin.

And don't just give up at day #1, really try to do a small project with it. When you encounter something you can't do - read/ask around and find out how to, because 99% of the time you can - it just works differently (in a better way) than in other hosts.

Groove3 have some Reaper Tutorial Videos online, from which even I (who considers himself to be quite a seasoned Reaper veteran) managed to extract loads of useful hints and techniques and answers to unasked questions.
http://www.groove3.com/str/reaper-training-videos/

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TheoM - Wed Apr 25, 2012 1:59 am

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BitwiG!

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acousticglue - Wed Apr 25, 2012 3:21 am

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SawStudio Lite and Midi Workshop

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Lazerbacon766 - Wed Apr 25, 2012 3:23 am

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A heavy daw just means it takes a lot of CPU and ram power and it takes a long time to load up

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allofdrab - Wed Apr 25, 2012 6:40 am

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Hmm, just curious, but, so Renoise didn't work for you?
I feel it's pretty darn light - loads in 4 seconds for me.
It's also incredibly efficient cpu wise, and has plugin delay compensation.
That said, I'm not saying it SHOULD work for you.
Just, in the other thread it seemed to suit the bill for what you were looking for.
So, I'm curious as to what your impression of it was after you tried it.
Or did you try it?
If you need a hand wrapping your head around it I'm willing to offer some guidance.

Note: I don't work for Renoise. I'm just a happy Renoise user/owner that wants to support the continued development of the product by helping people interested in it to discover what a truly powerful DAW it is. Part of my motivation is based on how incredibly well priced it is for what I get out of it. I figure I can show my appreciation and support, by helping the occasional person out with understanding how it can be used.

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Mechanought - Wed Apr 25, 2012 11:42 am

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+9001 for Renoise.

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Lazerbacon766 - Wed Apr 25, 2012 11:47 am

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Well you're the second person for thinking i started another thread about this but i think i remember you from the vst sequencer thread. for me reniose was just too confusing in GUI for the way it was laid out. I really prefer the traditional daw setup over renoises but that doesn't mean renoise is not a totally sick and powerful daw. I really think it does have potential but it is just not my style

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CTStump - Wed Apr 25, 2012 1:52 pm

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Does "GarageBand" belong in this thread?

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Uncle E - Wed Apr 25, 2012 1:55 pm

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Only if you're talking about the iPad version.

Seriously, though, not a bad call.

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hibidy - Wed Apr 25, 2012 2:03 pm

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Well, if you are on mac, there isn't much reason not to go with logic now.

edit: I'm still really bitter than mine cost 1000 bucks, didn't work and I ended up dumping it (cubase a similar story)

You guys have got it good these days

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CTStump - Wed Apr 25, 2012 2:08 pm

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My older brother swears by this program and he has logic, he's also 500% more productive than I am.

That say's alot.

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Skorpius - Wed Apr 25, 2012 2:42 pm

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Have you demoed Samplitude ProX yet? It could be just what you need, especially since you seem to be accustomed to the Magix type of workflow.

It's somewhat more expensive than DAWs like Reaper or Studio One, but has all the features you need. And, what's even more important: It sounds better than, e. g., Cubase, not only to my ears.

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Lazerbacon766 - Wed Apr 25, 2012 5:21 pm

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In that one i was just looking for a simple vst sequencer and noting more that that not a daw

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Lazerbacon766 - Wed Apr 25, 2012 5:23 pm

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actually after looking around i have now decided to use reaper

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hibidy - Wed Apr 25, 2012 5:59 pm

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n/m

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braj - Wed Apr 25, 2012 7:55 pm

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You should definitely install SWS extension with Reaper for full Reaper love:

http://www.standingwaterstudios.com/

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risome - Wed Apr 25, 2012 8:36 pm

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Ableton Live of course

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strangedogs - Sat Apr 28, 2012 10:20 pm

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I say Reaper - I also still use Cubase 4.52 AI and still love it too.

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litesomenow - Mon May 14, 2012 2:35 am

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what??? no one mentioned Ableton????

surprising.

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donato - Mon May 14, 2012 1:35 pm

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This is what I use (Cubase Elements 6). It is the cheap version of cubase, but to be honest I already have a bunch of nice VSTi's and effects, so I don't need all the premium price cubase stuff. I even dumped Logic for it. The big advantage for me is the midi editing, but most things in general just feel a lot more streamlined, and the work flow is faster.

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jethrobull - Mon May 14, 2012 1:41 pm

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I put my pint of beer on Ableton once and it slipped off.Made a right mess!

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Kaboom75 - Thu May 17, 2012 5:38 am

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Ableton Live 8 is nice it has drag and drop easy interface it's the best for being a one man band less clicks to get things done than the others. Studio One 2 is a runner up it has similar drag and drop but it has no midi effects. The other high end DAWS were over complicated.

The lite version of Ableton Live 8 comes free with a lot of midi controllers so if you're also looking for a new midi controller and fancy Live 8 try to get one that comes with it.

Live 8.3 with Klinikal Ninja Control skin.

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thecontrolcentre - Thu May 17, 2012 5:46 am

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Live 8 Suite has everything you need.

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Unaspected - Thu May 17, 2012 9:53 am

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That's the thing. Different DAWs for different people with different needs. Logic doesn't do it for me but FL Studio and Pro Tools do (both due to features and working stability).

This thread has also brought me back to Renoise, which interests me more each time I check it out (my initiation into computer based music was Octamed); in a similar manner, I keep checking out Reaper - which has some truly awesome features and has been recommended by a number of friends. Both programs have a great online community and potential for customisation.

Of course, whether a DAW is light or heavy on your system will depend on your CPU and to an extent, your working method and selected plugins.

Live interested me for a little while but now that FL Studio is receiving more focus on development of its own live features I can stick with that platform and approach track building from a different angle - which is the most interesting aspect of Live for me.

There are several very good DAWs out there and from what I've seen, read and heard, you've made a good choice with Reaper - though, from personal experience, my recommendation would have been FL Studio.

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hibidy - Thu May 17, 2012 12:32 pm

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reaper, "we'll continue to thumb our nose at midi" lol

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rifftrax - Thu May 17, 2012 12:40 pm

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FL Studio all the way Though reaper is pretty awesome for quick handling of a lot of multitrack audio stuff and audio editing.

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kennyda - Sat May 19, 2012 11:34 pm

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Oh yes there is






http://macableton.com/_Media/lives_arrange_view_with_all.png

http://macableton.com/_Media/screen_shot_2012-04-29_at.png







Note that all the different views can be shown and hidden with keyboard shortcuts, see my website. This includes different sections of the browser, ie you can view your samples or plugins without using the mouse.

Also note that Live has 2 main views, the normal time based DAW view, called Arrange), and the non-linear Session View where you make you tunes building blocks. Like a palette and a painting. But guess what? You can use both at the same time. You can have your basic song playing in Arrange, and at the same time compose a beat or melody in Session and have it looping over your song. When you are happy with it you just drag it into your Arrange View.

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hibidy - Sun May 20, 2012 8:30 am

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With it only being 32 bit, I'd crash live the first time I tried to do something. I need more ram access much of the time. No, I don't want to use jbridge.

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felonytrance - Sun May 20, 2012 5:41 pm

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Can't agree more!

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There are 46 posts in this topic.